Clay target shooting is one of the fastest growing sports at secondary school level and is particularly strong in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Last year, Tauranga Boys' College won a record sixth straight Super Eight competition and now young shooters from Katikati College are making their mark on thetechnically demanding sport.
Thomas Darling, 17, was the star at the national championships in Hamilton this month.
He performed with distinction to be the only local shooter selected for the New Zealand Junior team (under-21) following intense competition in the three events of single rise, single barrel and points in the B grade adult and junior divisions.
At the conclusion of the nationals, the aggregate of the three events was used to pick the national shooting teams for the Mackintosh Cup, an annual Commonwealth tournament, and Darling's aggregate score of 239 from 250 placed him third qualifier for the five-man New Zealand team.
Darling's success follows an outstanding 2012, when in his first year of clay target competition he won the South Island championships high gun division, with a score of 88/90.
His efforts have made an impact at Katikati College with increased numbers signing up to try clay target shooting.
Cameron Crapp, 14, shot a creditable 49 out of 50 in the single rise at the national champs to take second place in the adult C grade, while teammates Mathew Brown and Ryan Davies have improved dramatically under the astute coaching at the BOP Clay Target Club of Ray Mead and Colin Caws.
Katikati College sports co-ordinator, Liz Fowler, says the clay target programme at the school started last year and she has been amazed at how focused the boys have been on doing well.
"It is really good for the school. We have lots of young Year 7 and 8 students who are interested but, of course, they can't compete yet and are too small to hold the guns.
"We do have a sport honours board with New Zealand representatives on it so Thomas will now make that, which is great.
"The recognition in the school for clay target is quite amazing now and everyone knows who they are."
